Glossary of Terms
Silk Laundry Glossary of Terms
A-Line:
A-line is a silhouette that begins at the waist and widens as it drops down from the hips, creating the shape of a capital letter A.
Bias cut:
Bias cut refers to fabric cut across the grain at a 45-degree angle, making it possible for the fabric to retain its stretch. This stretch is essential in accentuating silhouettes and creating flattering and flowing pieces.
CDC:
CDC, for Crepe de Chine, is a silk fabric with a textured appearance. The finish of the fabric reflects light and creates depth and sheen. It is easy to wear as it is lightweight, durable and crease-resistant.
Drape:
The drape of a piece lies in the way the fabric hangs off a silhouette. Draping is used to accentuate figures and create movement and fluidity in a garment.
Chiffon:
Chiffon is an elegant, lightweight fabric. In our pieces, the chiffon we use is made of silk, ensuring a beautiful, elegant drape and crepe-like texture.
French seam:
A French seam hides seam allowance on the inside of a garment, making the raw edge invisible. It is used on our silk to minimize the appearance of the seam, blending it into the fabric. The raw edges are fully enclosed for a neat finish.
Mulberry Silk:
Mulberry silk is one of the highest quality silks produced. The allure of Mulberry silk is in the way it is produced, spun from silkworms fed Mulberry leaves exclusively. The silk is softer in texture and more uniform in it’s crisp white colour. It is also 100% natural and hypoallergenic.
Momme:
Momme (mm) is a unit of measurement traditionally used to measure silk fabrics. It refers to the weight of 100 yards of silk, 45 inches wide in pounds. Silk varies in weight and silk garments will go from 8mm to 16mm and sometimes higher. For reference, our 90’s Silk Slip Dress is 16 mm.
Organza:
Organza is a smooth, sheer silk fabric. It is stiffer than chiffon and is used to create volume in a garment.
Peace Silk:
Peace silk is the result of non-violent silk breeding and harvesting. It allows silkworms to complete their metamorphosis into butterflies. However, this results in broken threads that must be woven back together and has less integrity as a result.
Piping:
Piping is folded fabric sewn to make a trim at the edge of a piece of fabric. We use piping to define the style lines of a piece.
Sandwashed silk:
Sandwashed silk is treated to soften the fabric, giving it a texture close to that of suede. It creates a matte appearance without sacrificing the sheen of the fabric. Sandwashed silk looks especially elegant when it catches the light.
Silk Satin:
Silk satin refers to a way of weaving silk threads. By floating the warp threads above the other fibers, the weave produces a uniquely shiny surface, making it appear rich and luxurious.
Silk Georgette:
Named after the French dressmaker Georgette de la Plante, Silk Georgette is thin and semi-transparent. It has a grainy surface due to the high twist per inch of the silk threads. Silk Georgette flows beautifully and will bring life into a garment.
